Springfield Township’s combined county and township tax bill that goes out March 1 will be an unprecedented 17 mills, 3 mills higher than last year. The hike is due to a dedicated Fire and EMS tax, with a 2.5 mill increase to support Palisades Regional fire services and surrounding companies and 0.5 increase for the Upper Bucks EMS. The average taxpayer with a $50,000 assessment will see an increase of $150, according to the township.
“We don’t take lightly having to increase taxes, but by the same token the community has an expectation of services and I’ve heard nobody speak poorly of the services they (Fire/EMS) provide,” said Supervisor James Nilsen. His colleague, Bill Ryker, who also endorsed the $3 million budget, likewise defended the 3-mill increase, stating it was “out of necessity.”
The township avoided dipping into its capital reserve fund to balance the budget for the third straight year; however, administrative/zoning, police, road labor costs continued their upward trend, accounting for nearly 50 percent of expenses.
Also at the Dec. 27 meeting, the township approved the hiring of a consultant to study the traffic light at Route 309 and Springfield Street, the scene of two motorist deaths in September. Nilsen announced that a PennDOT official had informed the township it would increase the duration of the yellow traffic light from 3 to 5 seconds as a safety measure.
Supervisors also set aside time to formally recognize the contributions of longtime residents Bruce Fritchman, a former member of the planning commission and professor at Lehigh, and Theodora “Tat” Moyer, a longtime award-winning educator at Springfield Elementary and Palisades School Board member. Moyer also founded the Cooks Creek Watershed Association. Both died in December.
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